We have an exciting opportunity for a Payroll Co‑ordinator to join our team in Bristol. In this role, you will support the Payroll Manager in delivering an accurate and timely payroll service for the UK and selected international payrolls, as well as supporting the administration of pension arrangements.
You will work closely with HR, Finance and third‑party providers, helping to ensure payroll processes run smoothly, compliantly and to agreed deadlines across multiple jurisdictions.
Responsibilities
In this role, you can expect to be involved in a wide range of payroll activities, including:
Supporting the transfer of international payrolls from local offices to the central UK payroll function
Coordinating multi‑country payroll cycles, ensuring accuracy and timeliness across different time zones
Processing, inputting and checking monthly pay and benefit changes
Processing required inputs for shadow payrolls, in line with instructions from the tax team
Managing the payroll inbox and Workday cases, responding to colleague queries within agreed SLAs
Running pay and retro calculations, investigating discrepancies and correcting errors
Submitting UK payroll to agreed deadlines to enable BACS automation
Completing monthly payroll checks to ensure compliance with UK and relevant international legislation
Maintaining and updating payroll standard operating procedures for UK and international payrolls (currently Workday and CloudPay)
Processing and reconciling deductions such as cycle to work, flexible holiday and season ticket loans
Completing manual payroll adjustments where required, including starters and leavers after cut‑off
Creating and auditing family leave schedules (including maternity, adoption, shared parental and neonatal leave) to ensure pay accuracy
Processing third‑party payments via BACS in line with UK legislative deadlines
Producing monthly payroll ledger journal postings and reconciling payments to 3E
Supporting UK pensions administration, including auto‑enrolment and re‑enrolment processes
Running payroll reports and audit checks, including identifying missing or duplicate bank details
Completing Office for National Statistics payroll surveys
Handling confidential employee information with appropriate discretion at all times
About you
We're open to different backgrounds and experiences. To be successful in this role, you will bring:
Previous experience working in a payroll environment
A strong understanding of UK payroll legislation and compliance requirements
Confidence working accurately with detailed data and tight deadlines
Strong organisational skills, particularly when managing multiple payroll cycles across countries
Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with HR, Finance and external providers
A proactive approach, with the confidence to use initiative and resolve issues
The following would be beneficial, but are not essential:
Experience using Workday and/or CloudPay
Exposure to international payrolls or projects supporting international payroll delivery
Working knowledge of Excel and Word
CIPP qualification or working towards one
You will also need 5 GCSEs including Maths and English (Grade C or above) or equivalent.
What's in it for you?
We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:
Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)
Flexible, hybrid working policy
Generous bonus scheme
Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)
Holiday exchange scheme
Private medical insurance
Enhanced parental leave
Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.
Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.
Benefits
Flexible schedulePerformance bonusParental leave
Additional Information
Payroll Co‑ordinator
Bristol
About CMS
CMS is a future‑facing law firm with more than 79 offices across 45 countries and over 5,000 lawyers worldwide. We combine deep sector knowledge with a global perspective to help our clients anticipate change and respond with confidence. Technology plays a key role in how we work, and we continue to invest in smarter, more effective ways of delivering legal services - while supporting our people to develop and thrive.
Cmno · Bristol, UK